English Language Teaching*

The Master of Arts (MA) program in English Language Teaching (ELT) is designed to provide students with the opportunity of acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical experience in ELT. The programme consists of two possible tracks. In the first track, the students can opt to take 8 courses and complete a thesis over a period of two years. In the second track, which does not require students to write a thesis, enables students to complete 10 courses and a small research project over three academic semesters (1.5 years). Each course is worth 3 credits. The Seminar, Thesis and the Project (for non-thesis) are non-credit courses. In order for students to complete the thesis programme, they need to complete 21 credits (7 courses) together with the two non-credit courses, i.e. the Seminar and the Thesis. In order to complete the non-thesis programme, the students need to complete 30 credits (10 courses), plus the Project (non-credit).
The following table shows the compulsory courses within the MA programme. If the students opt for the non-thesis track, they do not need to take ELT 550 – Thesis:

The MA programme also enables students to specialise in one of the following fields of study by offering a variety of elective courses. Students should complete at least 2 courses within their selected field of study to be able to receive their award in this field:

The elective courses offered within the department are presented below:

Course Code

Course Name

ELT 501

English Language and Linguistics

ELT 502

Innovative Approaches to Language Teaching

ELT 503

Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom

ELT 504

English Syntax

ELT 506

Language Transfer

ELT 507

Translation Theory and Language Teaching

ELT 508

Applied Linguistics

ELT 509

Psycholinguistics

ELT 510

Discourse Analysis and English Language Teaching

ELT 511

Sociolinguistics

ELT 512

Literature in English Language Teaching

ELT 513

Advanced Writing Skills

ELT 514

British Poetry

ELT 515

Stylistics

ELT 517

Language Acquisition

ELT 519

Micro-Discourse Analysis

ELT 520

Issues and Taboos: The languages of Politics, War Religion and Gender

ELT 521

New Trends in Education

ELT 522

Comparative Literature in Language Teaching

ELT 523

Key Themes in Contemporary Fiction

ELT 524

Advanced Psychology

ELT 525

Instructional Technologies and Materials Development

ELT 526

Research Statistics in Language Teaching

ELT 527

British Novel

ELT 528

ELT Curriculum

ELT 532

Language Testing and Programme Evaluation

ELT 536

Management in ELT

ELT 538

Teacher Development

ELT 542

Cultural Studies

ELT 544

Teacher Cognition

ELT 546

Pragmatics in Language Teaching

ELT 558

Textual Analysis & Writing

ELT 582

Contemporary American Poetry

Students who would like to continue with the Thesis track should satisfy the following language proficiency conditions before they complete their courses. These exam scores are only valid for two (2) years:

Test

Minimum Score

YDS (Foreign Language Proficiency Exam, Turkey)

60

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) IBT

72

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) PBT

530-TWE 4

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) CBT

190

IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems)

6.0, provided that the student scores minimum 5.5 in each of the sections

FCA (First Certificate in English)

C

CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)

C

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)

C

If students cannot satisfy these minimum language requirements, they have to sit for the English Language Proficiency exam administered by the department and get a minimum score of 70 out of 100. Students who fail to score 70 in this exam before they start their thesis continue the non-thesis track.

PhD programme in English language teaching
The program leading to the PhD degree is a three year (6 semesters) program of full-time study involving seven taught courses (21 credits) , one seminar course and a dissertation. Applicants are expected to have an MA degree in English Language Teaching. However, students with a degree in a related subject may also be eligible for admission. Non-standard entrants are considered on an individual basis. The PhD program is carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School of Educational Sciences.

ELT 601 Current Issues in English Language Teaching
Issues in English language teaching cover a broad area, a variety of subjects widening from language teaching methods to several research subjects, and from subject related suggestions to various research outcomes on different issues. This course aims to explore the most substantial and functional parts of these issues and develop multi-standpoints and critical review of these issues.

ELT 602 Approaches to English Language Teacher Education
Several language teaching approaches have been introduced to the language teaching discipline and each of these approaches has contributed in a different way to the process of language teaching. Language teachers inevitably study and put these approaches into practice throughout their professional lives. The consciousness and awareness of when and how to use which part of which approach is a matter of the teaching skills developed throughout a methodical and scientific education. This course aims to re-examine the advancement of utilizing language teaching approaches and their involvement in the overall process of language teacher education. It also explores and discusses the main issues concerning these approaches.

ELT 603 English Language Teaching Curriculum
Curriculum can be defined as a collection of details of a teaching program. Designing a curriculum is primarily based on a systematic process including an investigation about the needs and requirements, developing objectives of the program in accordance with the needs, structuring the content of the teaching syllabus for each course included in the curriculum, deciding on the appropriate teaching materials and methods in line with the content of the syllabus for each course, deciding on the assessment and evaluation issues, and reporting the effectiveness of the curriculum with its all components. This course, therefore, aims to reconsider all the issues and factors related to designing English language teaching curriculum.

ELT 604 Seminar in ELT
In this course students study on a specific subject that they are planning to focus on further in their PhD study. This course enables students to carry out their preliminary studies before starting their main PhD study.

ELT 605 Sociolinguistics
The field of sociolinguistics which is mainly concerned with the social dimension of language can be defined as the study of language and linguistic behaviour as influenced by social and cultural factors. This course aims to concentrate on the language issues that are surrounded by sociolinguistic parameters and students are expected to reassess these parameters in accordance with the requirements of their studies.

ELT 606 Program Evaluation in English Language Teaching
Program evaluation in language education is essential as it constitutes the most significant analysis and diagnosis procedure of determining the weak and strong boundaries of language programs. Evaluation can be considered as the most systematic process of gathering, analysing, interpreting and reporting data. There are various types of evaluation which seeks to satisfy the needs of the researchers and administrators. Students taking this course examine the types of evaluation, methods and techniques that are primarily utilized in evaluation process.

ELT 607 Instructional Design in English Language Teaching
This course aims to explore the theory and practice in the field of instructional design and devise the possible effective designs for instruction in English language teaching. The course will also focus on the methodology regarding the very essential needs of English language learners. The students are expected to work on the current research, applications and practices concerning the science of instructional design.

ELT 608 Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
This course guides students to consider Pragmatics as a field which is primarily concerned with the process of producing language and in its producers, not just in the end-product, language. They are directed into the research of the use of language in human communication as determined by the conditions of society. This course also familiarises students with types of descriptions of discourse such as descriptions of cohesive elements, genres features, speech acts and politeness phenomena and provide students with an opportunity to analyse written and spoken texts to investigate their features and to practise the types of descriptions listed above.

ELT 609 Action Research
This course aims to acquaint students with the principles and requirements of an action research. Action research is closely related with classroom research and is generally based on observations and structured applications of certain teaching materials as well as teaching techniques. Students who take this course are expected to develop and expand research skills compliant with the theory of action research.

ELT 610 Statistical Methods in English Language Teaching
Statistics are widely used in quantitative research in many academic disciplines. There are several research designs in English language teaching as well which require statistical analysis for the interpretation of the research data. Students who intend to carry out an experimental or quasi experimental research need to utilize certain statistical methods to process their data and explain its significance to the readers of their reports. There are a number of computer programs which are used for processing the research data. One of them, and probably the most effective of all, is SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Students are expected to familiarize with the fundamentals of this computer software and practice it using real research data. In general, this course seeks to introduce students all the necessary rudiments of statistics which they might need to utilize during their studies.

ELT 611 Psycholinguistics
Psycholinguistics is the study of how the mind perceives, processes and produces language.
This course explores the psychological processes and devices which are considered to be vital in language acquisition. It will also focus on the issues like the connection and relation between thought, knowledge and language and the features, the production and comprehension of language. Psychological impact on language acquisition will also be considered Students are also expected to gain an in-depth understanding of current research in psycholinguistics.

ELT 612 Foreign Language Teaching and Educational Linguistics
Educational linguistics focuses on the application of linguistics to the learning of English language in accordance with the principles of educational theory and practice. The introduction of linguistics into the language teaching settings resulted in more effective and successful foreign language teaching and learning. Students taking this course will examine the principles, methods and means of applying educational linguistics into foreign language teaching and learning settings.

ELT 613 Teacher Development in Foreign Language Teaching
Teacher development in language teaching is an ongoing process and practice. It requires a lifelong learning and development in personal knowledge, language skills and personal teaching skills. The teachers who are concerned with developing their knowledge and skills are more successful and carry out more effective teaching practices than other teachers who do not show sufficient interest to these issues. Teachers who aim to widen their knowledge concerning the teaching of English language ought to be interested in numerous issues such as language skill development techniques, material design, language testing and program evaluation, research techniques, and principles of syllabus or program design.

ELT 614 Problems in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning
This course aims to guide students on how to take the initiative over the problems related to language teaching and learning, how to investigate and diagnose them, and how to produce solutions for these problems.

ELT 615 Recent Developments in Foreign Language Teaching
This course investigates the recent developments in foreign language teaching. Students taking this course revise the developments in foreign language teaching and explore the grounds that lead to these developments. Developmental process in academic fields is an ongoing and inescapable process and continues in different forms, styles and speed in accordance with the needs and requirements of the relevant participants.

ELT 616 Innovative Approaches to Language Teaching
In the last couple of decades, several approaches emerged in line with the needs of the learners. The new paradigm in education, triggered by constructivist and connectivist learning theories, resulted in novel approaches and methods in language teaching as well. In this course, students explore the research concerning the new paradigm in education in conjunction with the new trends and approaches in language learning and teaching.

ELT 617 Teaching with the Internet
The internet prevails as one of the most important means of locating and incorporating knowledge into realities of life. It should also be considered as the biggest source for educational practices and research as well. Students taking this course explore the opportunities that are provided by the internet and its contribution to teaching practices.

ELT 618 Literature and Foreign Language Teaching
The main aim this course is to familiarize students with the possible ways of amalgamating literature with language teaching and learning. The students taking this course explore the research with reference to the incorporation of literature in language learning. The students are presented and given the opportunity to explore and observe the use of short stories, poems, plays and novels in language learning.

ELT 619 Materials Evaluation and Development in English Language Teaching
Teaching materials are prepared and used in accordance with the needs and objectives of the language programs. It can be a very demanding process to design and produce flawlessly functioning materials in language classrooms. However, it is perfectly possible to diagnose the weak and strong sides of teaching materials and improve them accordingly. This course aims to donate students with skills and knowledge about the procedures and requirements of materials evaluation, adaptation and development.

ELT 620 Advanced Research Methods
The aim of any academic research is to produce an original scientific study that contributes to the body of existing knowledge in a specific field. This course aims to give the students the necessary background in traditional and contemporary research methods to enable them to carry out such an academic project at the PhD level. For this purpose, the course covers qualitative and quantitative approaches to research as well as eclectic and mixed methodologies. The course also includes critical discussions of different research studies and their methodologies and drafting of research proposals. Students are expected to review the literature on a specific topic and analyse the scientific approaches used in these studies. In addition, they are expected to produce a comprehensive research proposal on a topic of their choice.

ELT 621 Language Transfer
As the psychological cornerstone of Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis, language transfer has been one of the central, and at the same time, controversial issues in Applied Linguistics, Second-Language Acquisition, and Language Teaching for quite a long time. Therefore, it is essential for Ph.D. students to grasp an in-depth knowledge of Language Transfer and related theories and to implement and apply this knowledge in their teaching career. Accordingly, this course deals with the nature of language transfer and the role it plays in Second Language Acquisition. The course covers all aspects of language transfer including phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexico-semantics. However, at the Ph.D. level, emphasis will be given to new trends in language transfer and contrastive analysis namely the transfer of textual, discoursal and pragmatic features of mother tongue to the learning of parallel features in the target language.

ELT 627 – English Language and Linguistics
The course introduces students to basic concepts of Linguistics and methods of analysing language. A variety of topics are explored, among which phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, language and society, brain and language, etc. The students are asked to research using reliable sources and come up with valuable information about chosen topics.

ELT 638 – Teaching English to Young Learners
The aim of Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) is to provide students with knowledge and skills for teaching English as a second or foreign language to young learners. It aims to broaden teachers’ knowledge and skills to successfully teach young learners, including both theoretical and practical aspects of TEYL, as teaching young learners can be very different from teaching teenagers and adults. Although, this course concentrates on the teaching of English to young learners, it is also suitable for teachers of other languages who would like to develop their language teaching skills and practice. On successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate awareness of the variety in the educational backgrounds and cultures of young learners and of the context in which teaching is taking place; understand young learners’ cognitive, affective and social development at different stages and the different learning styles and preferences which young learners bring to learning English; understand the importance of planning for effective teaching which addresses young learners’ needs and interests; assessment and evaluation of young learners.

ELT 639 – Language Testing and Programme Evaluation
Language Testing and Programme Evaluation The first part of the course introduces students to different perspectives on testing, pinpointing the importance of both objective and subjective tests as well as characteristics of a good test; presents different classifications of tests used in the EFL classroom; requires students to have a go in designing their own tests for EFL classrooms (after discussing dos and don’ts and seeing models of tests); and familiarizes them with different aspects of assessment that can be used in the EFL classroom. The second part of the course is dedicated to programme evaluation. Students learn about a systematic curriculum development perspective, an approach that focuses on the planning, development, implementation and evaluation phases of language programmes.

ELT 640 – Theory and Practice in Second Language Reading
This course is designed to provide an overview of the major theories and models regarding second language reading processes and instruction. By covering theoretical underpinnings for conceptualizing and analyzing L2 reading competence, teachers can enhance and improve instruction in the field. Researchers and graduate students, on the other hand, can benefit by situating their research within theoretical frameworks. In addition to the theories and models, the course covers the components of reading ability, reviews research on L2 reading, highlights the role of metacognitive processes in strategic reading and delves into individual differences (what characteristics define good and bad readers).

ELT 644 – Language Teaching Practice
Language teaching practice course is designed to analyse the structural and operational associations between the learning theories (objectivism, instructivism, behaviourism, cognitivism, humanism, constructivism and connectivism) and language learning methodologies and elucidate how these have influenced and shaped the language teaching praxis. During the course, the graduate students will be guided to scrutinise and reconsider their knowledge and perceptions regarding learning strategies, motivation, lesson planning, syllabus, classroom management, materials, assessment, technology, teaching listening, teaching pronunciation, teaching speaking, teaching grammar, teaching vocabulary, teaching reading, and teaching writing. Through discussions and the materials presented in the course, it is hoped that the graduate students will develop a better understanding of the learning practices employed in the language classrooms.